Spring structure.



O. R. HUNT.

SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.Z9,1912.

1,027,05 1. Patented May 21, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

O. R. HUNT.

SPRING STRUGTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 29,1912.

1,027,051 Patented May 21, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OZELLO R. HUNT, or

(.THICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM VAN MIDDLESWORTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, OZELLO R. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chiago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to spring structures, such as bed-springs, springs for sofas, cushions, etc.

The primary object is to improve the construction and operation and cheapen the cost of manufacture of spring structures of the character indicated.

A further object is to facilitate the assembling operation in the manufacture of a spring-structure having the advantageous characteristics hereinafter set forth.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken plan view of a spring constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fi 3, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken plan View showing a slight modification; Fig. 5, a broken plan view showing another modification; and Fig. 6, a broken elevational view illustrating the manner in which the spiral resilient spacers employed may have their end portions bent or deformed to obviate any tendency to work loose.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the construction, as there shown, comprises upbolstering springs'l ranged in longitudinal and transverse rows; resilient spacers 2 connecting the upholstcring springs in pairs at their end rings; and resilient spacers 3 connecting the upholstcring springs in pairs at their intermediate portions. To the end rings of the upholstcring springs are connected combination guides and connectors 4 which serve to position the resilient spacers with relation to the end rings and connect the spacers to the end rings. The members 4 extend on radial lines from the end rings of the upholstering springs. Each member 4: preferably comprises a U-form member, or clip, having parallel limbs 5 and 6 and a loop, or web, 7 which engages the end ring of the upholstcring spring. The limbs 5 and 6 extend away from the end ring and are separated the required distance to enable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1912.

spring 2 from unturning.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Serial No. 687,030.

them to fit snugly within the resilient spacer 2. The lower limb 5 of each member 4 has its extremity bent to form a downturned book 8 which is adapted to engage a convolution near the end of the spacer 2. Each resilient spacer 2 is composed of a spiral, or coil-spring of small-gage wire, the coil being of relatively small diameter. In the assembling operation, the extremity of the spiral 2 is caused to engage the hook 8 ofthe connector 4, and the spiral is turned or threaded onto the connector, the limbs 5 and 6 of the connector being received inside of the convolutions of the resilient spacer. Thus, a pair of convolutions of the coilspring 2 will be confined between the hook 8 and the end ring of the upholstcring spring. The distance between the hook 8 and the loop 7 of the connector may be such that the intervening convolutions will be compressed between the hook 8 and the end ring of the upholstcring spring, so that the friction will be sufficient to prevent the p It may be explained. that in the assembling operation it is necessary to screw the end portion of the coil-spring 2 some distance past the end ring of the upholstcring spring, so that in a reverse turning operation the opposite end of the spring 2 may be caused to spirally engage the connector 4 at the other member of the pair of upholstcring springs which are being connected. The springs 2 are preferably disposed diagonally and across each other in pairs, having spiral engagement with each otherat the intersecting point, as indicated at 9; that is, one spring 2 is screwed through the central portion of the other at right-angles thereto. Thus, the upholstcring springs are resiliently tied together, and are also resiliently held apart or spaced with relation to each other. The resilient spacers 3 are similar to the resilient spacers 2, but are of somewhat greater length, where the upholstering springs are of the hourglass-form shown. Inasmuch as the spacers 3 connect the intermediate portions of the upholstcring springs, it is pre ferred to arrange the spacers 3 in line with the rows of springs. Connectors like the connectors i may be employed to connect. the coils 3 to the intermediate portions of the upholstcring springs; or U-form connectors 4 having limbs 5 and 6 provided, respectively, with books 8 and 8 may be employed, as shown in Fig. 3. In such case, the limb 6" made shorter than the limb 5 by a distance equal to substantially the pitch '(or a. multiple thereof) of the coilspring 3-, so that while one convolution of the spring 33 engages the hook 8*, another convolution will engage the hook S". The parts may be so proportioned, however, that the convolutions of the spring 3 will be somewhat distorted and forced into spiral engagement with the hooks, so that the frictional engagement will be increased. Here again, the end convolution. of the spring 3 is forced into engagement with the intermediate convolution of the upholstering spring 1, so that the upholstering springs are resiliently tied together and also resiliently held apart.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the upholstering spring 1 has its end ring olfset or struck outwardly at points 10, the offsets thus afforded being adapted to receive the loop portions of the connectors l The connectors t" are of the same form as the connectors t. and aside from the fact that the loop portions of the connectors t engage the offsets it) of the end ring, the springs :2 are connected with the spring 1 in the same manner as the springs 2 are con nected withtho springs 1. It will be noted that the offsets 10 are adapted to prevent the connectors from slipping on the end rings, and thus to prevent. the coil springs 2 from slipping around on the end rings of the upholstering springs. For ordinary purposes, however, the offsets 10 are unnecessary.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, a resilient spacer or coil-spring 2 is shown connected with the end ring of the upholstering spring 1 by means of a connector l. The connector et is of the same construction as the connector 4, and the connection is made in the manner shown in Fig. 2, except that the spring 2 is caused to project somewhat into the end ring. That is to say, the coilspring is causedto spirally engage the end ring of the upholstering spring both on its convex surface and on its concave surface, thus increasing the frictional engagement between the members.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 a coil-spring 2 is connected with the end ring of the upholstcring spring 1 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. but the extremity of the end convolution of the spring 2 is deformed or bent, as indicated at ill. to prevent the spring 2 from unscrewing o: working loose.

In each of the described constructions, the connector employed is horizontally dis posed. but has its limbs lying in a vertical plane. and it will he observed that the connet-l or serves to position the resilient spaccr with relation to the plane of the convolution of the uphohl'criug spring whcrc the connection i made. Thus. in Fig. '2. it will be lunderstood that the upper portion of the coil-spring 2 is disposed only slightly above the plane of the end ring, so that there is no objectionable projection, such as would tend to injure a mattress or pad placed on the spring structure.

Ordinarily, it will sufiice to connect either the end rings of the upholstering springs or the intermediate convolutions of the upholstering springs by resilient spacers. Thus, either the springs 2 or the springs 3 may be dispensed with, if desired. In the construction of cushions for automobiles or the like, it may be desirable to connect the intermediate portions of the upholstering springs as shown in Fig. 2 and omit the end ring connections shown in Fig. 2. In any case, however, the upholstering springs may be individually compressed without substantial distortion of the surrounding springs, inasmuch as the resilientspacers will yield freelyto permit such compression. At the same time, the resilient connecting coils will aid in righting the compressed springs after the pressure is re lieved.

The improved construction results in a very substantial saving of Wire, since the connectors employed for joining the resilient spacers to the upholstering springs may be very short. Again, this construction affords very secure connections between the and the assembling operation is readily performed. Where the spacers 2 are diagonally disposed and interlocked at their central port-ions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they serve to fill the spaces between the end rings of the upholstering springs.

been given for clearness of understanding only and no undue limitation should be un derstood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

that I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a spring structure of the character set forth, the combination with upholstering springs provided with end rings, of connec tors on said end rings having guide portions and hook portions, and small coilsprings having convolutions embracing said guide portions and engaging said hook portions and also engaging said end rings.

2. In a spring structure of the character set forth. the combination with upholstering springs. of conuccwrs engaging the upholstcring springs and cxlcnding away from the same. and small coil-springs having convolmious engaging said connectors and engaging the upholstcring springs, said connectors having means for exerting tension on said coil-spriugs In a spring stru ture of the character resilient spacers and the upholstering c0ils;-

The foregolng detailed description has set forth, the combination with upholstering springs. of clips having hooked engagement with the upholstering springs and extending away from the samc and provided with hooks turned toward the springs, and smallcoil-springs having convolutions embracing said clips and cngaging the upholstering springs and the hooks of said clips.

4. In a spring structuro of the charactcr sot forth, the combination with upholstering springs,'ot' U-t'orm conncctors having web portions cngaging the npholstering springs and providcd with mnvolution-em gaging hooks, and small coil-springs having convolutions embracing the mcmbors of said U-shape connectors and confined between the upholstering springs and said hooks.

5. In a spring structure of the character set forth, the combination with a pair of upholstering springs, of U-t'orm wire clips having limbs separated by a space. a limb of each conncctor providcd with a ('nrvod 0nd affording a hook, and a small (-oil'spting having convolutions at; each end portion emb'acing the limbs of the comicclor tbcrvat and confined between the upholsu-ring spring and the hook on said limb.

o. In a spring structnrc of tho charactcr sct t'ortln thc combination of a pair of upholstcring springs providcd with end rings, of a pair of U-t'orm conncctors having" webs cngaging said cnd rings and having straight uppcr limbs and lowcr limbs provided with downcnrvcd oxlrcmities and a small coilspring having convolutions at cach cnd cmbracing a comiccl'or and cogaging an and ring and the co-acting hook. 

